Master of Science in Nursing Degree FAQs

Q. How and when do I get started?A. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year. Request Information or contact an Admissions Advisor at (866) 295-3104 for enrollment information.

Q. How many sessions a year do you offer?A.To align with the demanding schedules of today's professionals, Benedictine’s Online MSN program offers three opportunities to start courses per year. Request more information or contact a program manager at (866) 295-3104 for the next start date.

Q. What kind of educational background is required for admission?A. You must have an earned bachelor's degree in nursing from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75.

Q. What are the application requirements?

Have earned a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) from a program accredited by a regionally accredited college or university and have attained a cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.

Provide your official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions.

Provide a Statement of Goals, a maximum of two pages describing goals and rationale for pursuing a master's degree in nursing. Include past nursing experiences that have prepared you to pursue a new role following completion of the program.

Provide one letter of professional recommendation from an individual familiar with the applicant's competence in the practice of nursing and potential for successful graduate education.

A score on the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) in accordance with the Graduate Catalog policy for those applicants where English is not their primary language.

Q. Is there a thesis required?A. No. Benedictine's Online MSN program does not require a thesis. A 120-clock-hour culminating capstone project and experience is required.

Q. How many total credits are required?A. The Online MSN program consists of 18 semester hours (six classes) of core courses, and an additional 21 semester hours (seven classes) for the Nurse Educator concentration or 18 semester hours (six classes) for the Nurse Executive Leader concentration.

Q. How long will it take me to complete my degree?A. Most adult students who work full-time take one online course per eight-week session. The Online MSN program offers six academic sessions per year, which means that most students take six courses per year. On average, the Online MSN program is designed to be completed in about two years.

Q. Is there a residency requirement?A. No, there is no residency requirement. The Online MSN program allows you to learn anywhere you have access to the Internet under the direction of faculty and staff. Online courses are delivered via the Web through a user-friendly online learning platform. This powerful educational technology allows you to get course assignments, direct questions to faculty and other students, and participate in critical analytical discussion with colleagues around the world.

Q. Do I need a computer?A. Yes, you will need a computer with high speed Internet access to successfully complete the requirements for the degree.

Q. What is the main software that I need to get started?A. You must have Microsoft Office 2007 or 2010 installed on your computer, and your Web browser should be Internet Explorer version 6.0 or Firefox version 1.5 or above. In addition, there are some free support programs that you can configure to ensure you are able to view the media products used to support your learning, such as Windows Media Player, QuickTime, Compression/Zip Utility, Macromedia Flash and Adobe Acrobat. The Personal Support Center is available to assist you with configuration.

Q. How much do I need to know about computers to succeed in this program?A. The courses are designed to be user-friendly for those who have limited computer skills. All students complete an online orientation that ensures they have the basic skills required to successfully navigate the course.

Q. Is there technical support?A. Yes. Technical support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the Personal Support Center, which is easily reached through a toll-free number.

Q. Is advising available for all students?A. Yes. Students can set up a telephone appointment to speak with an advisor whenever assistance is needed.

If you have additional questions, please fill out our Request Information form or call (866) 295-3104 to speak with a program manager.

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an independent corporation and one of two commission members of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), which is one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The Higher Learning Commission accredits degree-granting, post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central region. Benedictine University is accredited by the HLC.

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